1. AS Language Grammatical & Syntactical Features

Adjunct

A grammatically optional element of a sentence, usually marked off by punctuation, may be placed initially, medially or terminally. (Eg "but" and "for now")

Anacoluthon

A change in grammatical structure, where the second part of the sentence does not complete the beginning. (:What are you... oh I know"

Aspect

Verb form that indicates relation to time (eg continuous -ing, past perfect - had sung)

Asyndeton

The omission of a conjunction in a compound structure. (Tired, injured, broken) or (Black, grey, brown"

Circumlocution

Not getting to the point

Clause

A group of words containing a verb - finite or nonfinite

Cleft sentence

a sentence formed by a main clause and a subordinate clause, which together express a meaning that could be expressed by a simple sentence

Complex sentence

A sentence consisting of at least two finite clauses in co-ordination

Co-ordination

Two or more independent clauses linked by a co-ordinating conjunction (And, but, or, nor)

Foregrounding

Use of syntactic devices to draw attention to a point (eg fronting)

Fragments

Elements of a sentence are omitted, indicated by ellipses, with only fragments remaining; used in imaginative writing as part of stream of consciousness to represent the fact that we think in incomplete units

Fronting

The relocation of a part of the sentence that usually comes later, at the beginning. The effect is strong emphasis on the fronted element. ("The chocolate I ate" instead of "I ate the chocolate"

Grammatical Words

The closed set of words in a language that facilitates grammatical constructions (eg articles, pronouns, auxiliary verbs)

Head Word

The word in a phrase that carries the semantic (meaning) weight eg (The stunning "Flowers" - the phrase needs the head to be meaningful)

Imperative

Sentence form used for instructions or commands, often the subject is omitted

Inflection

Any form or change of form that distinguishes different grammatical functions of the same word (eg adding s, was -\> were)

Interpolation

Addition to a sentence, especially marked off by dashes or commas

Inversion

Departure from usual word order (eg he makes me down to lie) also called dislocation

Minor sentence

a verb-less construction "Happy now?"

Modify

Adding words to the head word of a phrase to clarify meaning eg (VICIOUS dog; the rules OF THE GAME)

Mood

The expression of modality (attitude) - declarative/indicative statements, interrogative, imperative

Noun phrase

A group of words acting as a noun (i.e a noun with a pre- or post- modification, such as the chef with the tall hat"

Object

The person or item being acted upon

Passive voice

the sentence begins with what was the object rather than the subject. "The chocolate was eaten by me" not "I ate the chocolate"

Phrase

A group of words acting together, without a finite verb

Polysyndeton

Repetitive use of a conjunction in place of a comma in a list. "There was ice-cream and chocolate mouse and strawberries and..."

Prefix

Morpheme added to the front of a word, which alters its meaning

Recursion

Repeating a sentence or part-sentence with the addition of a nested linguistic item.

Redundancy

A superfluous word (he referred "back" to the example

Reformulates

Self-repair of communication by paraphrase and sometimes refinement

Register

The degree of formality or informality of language to suit a context or circumstance

Sentence tags

Short question tagged onto statements to elicit agreement from the interlocutor e.g. It's a tough world, ISN'T IT? They take the negative form if the statement is positive and vice versa e.g. It's not a bad day, IS IT?

Slang

Expressions, often grammatically reduced, in common use in speech, may be particular to a region or social grouping

Syntax

Sentence construction. The arrangement of words or groups of words in a sentence.

Subordination

Connection of two clauses, with only one being independent. (e.g. "The season is changing, which is a blessing")

Suffix

Morpheme added to the end of a word, which alters its meaning e.g happi -ness

Tag phrases

Clichéd response suited to situations e.g "That's life" or "Fair enough"

Tautology

Stating the same information twice, in different words e.g "They could not keep warm; they were getting colder and colder"

Tense

Verb formation indicating time relationship between an event and an utterance about it - past, present, future